So, after a shocking and exhilerating upset of Pennywise and the Pats, the Bills find themselves the toast of the league (along with the Lions), and the only undefeated team in the AFC. The question now becomes, can they handle success?
This has all the makings of a trap game. Buffalo is coming off an astronomically huge win. The Bengals are only 1-2, and starting a rookie QB. It's a road game against another hungry young team. The Bills just ended a 15 game losing streak to New England, and the Bengals are trying to end a 10 game losing streak to the Bills, with their last win coming in the 1989 AFC Championship Game. Last season, the Bills became the only team in NFL history to win a game by 18 points or more after trailing by 21 (trailed 28-7 in the 2nd quarter, won 49-31). I would prefer they not fall behing big again.
It's The Amish Rifle Ryan Fitzpatrick VS The Red Rifile Andy Dalton. The Bengals defense is currently #3 in the league, but their competition hasn't been stiff. The Bills offense is on pace to set a new NFL single season scoring record (yes really). The Bills' defense has not looked great the last two weeks, but they have been playing a much-better-than-anticipated Raiders team (who took down the Jets last week, helping Buffalo claim sole posession of first place in the AFC East), and of course, the Patriots and their pretty boy juggernaut Tom Brady.
If the Bills want to prove that they are a legitimate contender, they have to win games like this going away. The worst thing they can do is have another slow start and let the Bengals hang around.
I would love to see an effort similar to opening day, but I think it will be somewhere in between opening day and the last two weeks.
I am predicting a 31-17 BILLS win to move them to 4-0, before they start taking on the NFC East
